The Town FilesBenson, Minnesota
City in Swift County · population 3,480 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,000
- Household income
- $52,821
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 39.7
Benson is a city of 3,480 people in Swift County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $156,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 100% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 95% of Minnesota towns.
How Benson ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Benson is worth $156,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $52,821, which is more affordable than 69% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $982 a month. 61.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benson | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $982 | $991 |
| Median household income | $52,821 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.8% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benson
| People | Benson | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Benson
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 0.8°F. About 28.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 14, 2009 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 28, 2021.
Severe weather in Swift County since 1996
Swift County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Swift County
Swift County had 3,737 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,905 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Benson itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Benson
4 public schools with 774 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 383 | 19.2 |
| BENSON SECONDARY | 6-12 | 356 | 13.7 |
| Heartland Girls Ranch | 7-12 | 21 | 21.0 |
| BENSON AREA LEARNING CENTER | 7-12 | 14 | 14.0 |
Towns near Benson
- Morris, MN23.7 mi · 5,105 people · home $209,600
- Montevideo, MN25.8 mi · 5,398 people · home $141,000
- Glenwood, MN26.4 mi · 2,657 people · home $179,400
- Willmar, MN29.8 mi · 21,015 people · home $198,400
Benson questions
Is Benson, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benson scores better for retirees than 93% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 6%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Benson?
The median owner-occupied home in Benson is valued at $156,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,821, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $982 a month.
What is the weather like in Benson?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 0.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.1 inches of precipitation a year and 42.6 inches of snow.
Does Benson get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 14, 2009. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)